Moving to get good, but not "best" public schools (currently in private) - where to go?

[Anonymous]

We are considering moving to a place either in Arlington or close-in Fairfax with good, but not necessarily "the best" public schools so that we can stop paying private tuition (we're not OK with our current local public - and I prefer not to name it). By good, I mean engaging for kids not in a gifted program and smaller class sizes. Class size is a big deal, as it's the reason we went private a couple years ago after trying our local public - oldest DD had been getting lost being in a bigger classroom (24-25 kids). I know that a lot of close-in school districts have kids pouring into them at the K level, but we're interested in 5th grade. I also wouldn't mind an area where the parents are on the less-intense side. Our house-purchase ceiling would be around $600K for a 3 or 4 bedroom, which puts us out of the running for buying in many of the "best" school districts, like a lot of north Arlington and Mclean, which from prior posts here seem to be "best" by reputation at least. And I'm not willing to cram a family of 5 into a 2 bedroom place.

Any ideas?

[Anonymous]

Have you considered Annandale (Truro area) that feeds into Woodson? Mantua area of Fairfax (that may be getting a little too expensive)? Can't think of any other areas that may be suitable, sorry, I'm sure others are more knowledgeable. Vienna is too much money for too little house. I think it would be nearly impossible to find a suitable home for your needs under $650-$700K.

[Anonymous]

For $600K you might have to look outside the beltway. The schools are good but the comute into the city is difficult. It's a major trade-off and difficult decision you'll have to make.

Currently there is some new road construction and they are adding a Metro line to Tysons Corner and beyond which may lessen the traffic in the future. We'll have to wait and see how that actually turns out???

Good luck, you are facing a difficult decision.

[Anonymous]

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/2608-Winchester-St_Arlington_VA_22213_1120228658

[Anonymous]

You might try the area of Falls Church (Fairfax County) that feeds into Marshall HS. The zip for Falls Church is 22043 and parts of Vienna feed into it as well - 22182 I think. The school is definitely good, not "the best", but certainly a place you can get a very good education - I teach there so I am somewhat biased. I would say the elementary and middle schools would be very good as well. Not a bad commute into DC either.

http://www.redfin.com/VA/Falls-Church/7330-Pinecastle-Rd-22043/home/9478167

http://www.redfin.com/VA/Falls-Church/6617-Haycock-Rd-22043/home/9476991 (this feeds into McLean HS)

http://www.redfin.com/VA/Falls-Church/6617-Haycock-Rd-22043/home/9476991 (a townhouse, but looks nice)

[Anonymous]

I agree to look into the neighborhoods in Annandale and "Fairfax" address that feed into Woodson. Typically just outside the Beltway along 50 or Little River/236. The commute into DC along 50 is not too bad as these things go.

You could also look around the Vienna Metro area for schools that feed into Oakton or Marshall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree to look into the neighborhoods in Annandale and "Fairfax" address that feed into Woodson. Typically just outside the Beltway along 50 or Little River/236. The commute into DC along 50 is not too bad as these things go.

http://franklymls.com/FX7383886

http://franklymls.com/FX7386129

http://franklymls.com/FX7381806

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you all for the info!

[Anonymous]

Mantua is NOT "on the less intense side"! The parents make less money than in McLean or Arlington, but the parents are very intense, concerned about getting their own kids in the advanced programs, etc. There are a lot of federal Government workers and the area is heavily Jewish.

[Anonymous]

I have friends who went to Woodson (high school that serves Mantua) and they say that even back then, it was pretty intensely competitive. Very good school, but competitive kids and parents. That said, there are some nice homes in that boundary and you are reasonably close to Dunn Loring or Vienna metro and several commuting routes. Long commute, though - about 60-70 minutes via 50 or 29 - into the city unless you can leave home by 6:45 a.m. (I live across route 50 from Mantua.) Would agree with earlier PP's suggestions of Marshall - it used to have a not-great reputation but it's really risen up through the ranks in the last few years - it's now considered one of the better schools in Fairfax. Some homes are near West Falls Church metro, which is good because route 7 can be kind of a nightmare in places. Some parts of Oakton boundary are near Vienna metro; just note that Oakton is a very large high school. Madison is also good. You could also try for something in the city of Falls Church - the George Mason pyramid gets praised a lot. In Arlington, you're probably priced out of Yorktown, but some South Arlington homes feed into Washington & Lee, which is not bad.

[Anonymous]

Vienna (22180, 22181 and 22182) has a a number of homes that would fit into your budget - and the elementary schools are all good (freedom hill, vienna es, louise archer, westbriar, wolftrap, colvin run) and there are two others (marshall road and cunningham park) which are fast rising due to the influx of new (wealthier) families with young ones. we've lived in Vienna (22182) for the past 9 years and while you do find some families which are more "intense" it's fair to say that for the most part, families here are very supportive of education but not overly pre-occupied to the point of being annoying. the elementary schools will feed into either Kilmer or Thoreau MS - both of which are great and highly "rated" by posters here as well as on other sites.

[Anonymous]

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/2412-Illinois-St-N_Arlington_VA_22205_1119202790

This would put you in Tuckahoe/Swanson/Yorktown

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/2412-Illinois-St-N_Arlington_VA_22205_1119202790

This would put you in Tuckahoe/Swanson/Yorktown

That is one really yucky house...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mantua is NOT "on the less intense side"! The parents make less money than in McLean or Arlington, but the parents are very intense, concerned about getting their own kids in the advanced programs, etc. There are a lot of federal Government workers and the area is heavily Jewish.

Not sure what your point is with either of those facts, particularly the last one. Glad I will not be seeing you around Mantua ES this Fall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Long commute, though - about 60-70 minutes via 50 or 29 - into the city unless you can leave home by 6:45 a.m.

Um -- where "into the city" are you referring to? My DH commutes "into the city" (to Capitol Hill) from 236 and Guinea Rd, and he regularly leaves around 8:10 am and is at his desk before 9 am.